It was 18 years ago — how time flies in the indie world — that the married directing team of Robert Pulcini and Shari Springer Berman brought us “American Splendor,” an achingly humane, scabrously funny, miraculously playful and inventive lower-depths comedy based on the life and work of the lumpen verité comic-book diarist Harvey Pekar, played by Paul Giamatti in a performance of irascible brilliance. The movie was an audacious triumph, and going forward one wanted, and expected, more great things from Pulcini and Berman. In the years since, however, nothing they’ve done has come within miles of living up to the promise of that landmark film. The odd thing is that their earnest empathy and craft is always on display; they have an instinct for pace, for camera angles, for how to seek out three dimensions in places where too many filmmakers settle for two. Yet lightning has never struck again for them.
- 4/29/2021
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
Similar News
Sweet Tooth: Season Three; Netflix Previews Final Episodes of Fantasy Drama Series
- 4/18/2024
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Netflix tosses a coin to The Witcher Season 5 but says it’s the final arc of the swords & sorcery series
- 4/18/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
'The Witcher' Renewed for Fifth & Final Season, Cast List Confirmed with One Major Star Exiting
- 4/18/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
“The script is brilliant”: Joseph Quinn Assures Marvel Fans Fantastic Four Team is Capable Enough to Beat the Superhero Fatigue in MCU
- 4/18/2024
- by Rahul Thokchom
- FandomWire
“No..you’re going to make it your own”: Joseph Quinn Says Chris Evans’ Human Torch Did Not Influence Him During His Audition For Fantastic Four Reboot
- 4/18/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
Fantastic Four | “The script is brilliant,” says Johnny Storm actor Joseph Quinn
- 4/18/2024
- by Dan Cooper
- Film Stories
2024 Emmy Experts predict Best Movie/Limited Actress: Jodie Foster (‘True Detective: Night Country’) out front
- 4/17/2024
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
Margaret Qualley Exits Amanda Knox Limited Series at Hulu
- 4/16/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Margaret Qualley Exits Hulu’s Amanda Knox Limited Series
- 4/16/2024
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.